Mini is deferring plans to bring the redesigned electric Cooper hatchback and new Aceman urban electric vehicle to the U.S., but isn’t shutting the door on U.S. availability completely.
The news was first reported by MotoringFile, and confirmed to Green Car Reports by Mini spokesperson Andrew Cutler, who noted that Mini had previously said that a decision had yet to be made on U.S. (and Canadian) availability of both models.
“A decision has been taken to defer market availability of these models in the US (and Canada) until a later date,” Cutler said in a statement, adding that Mini is not able to confirm what that date might be.
The redesigned electric Mini Cooper hatchback was unveiled alongside a first-ever electric version of the Countryman crossover at the 2023 Munich auto show, promising more range than the 114 miles of the outgoing Mini Cooper SE, on the EPA test cycle. Mini is selling gasoline versions of the redesigned Cooper in the U.S., as well as taking orders for a 2025 Countryman SE ALL4 electric crossover. The plug-in hybrid of the Countryman SE has been discontinued.
Sold exclusively as an EV, and positioned between the Cooper and Countryman in size, the Aceman was unveiled earlier this year. It always seemed like a long shot for the U.S. both because of its size—smaller than the Hyundai Kona Electric and Volvo EX30—and the fact that it was developed by a joint venture of Mini and Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors, and slated to be built in China. That would rule out a federal EV tax credit due to foreign entity of concern policies.
Mini aims to go all-electric by 2030 and now has a lineup of three EVs between the Cooper, Countryman, and Aceman. It looks like it will take a bit longer for that electric revolution to reach the U.S.